Self-propelled cable burying apparatus

ABSTRACT

A cable burying apparatus is mounted to a self-propelled tractor which can be ridden by the operator. The cable burying function is achieved by a blade which oscillates in a vertical plane parallel to the front to rear axis of the tractor. The upper end of the blade is pivoted to the top of a housing and a connecting rod driven by an eccentric is connected between the ends of the blade so that rotation of the shaft which mounts the eccentric will oscillate the bottom end of the blade. The housing also carries the eccentric and the shaft which drives the eccentric. Power for the rotation of the shaft is taken from a prime mover that is used to drive the tractor and is coupled to the eccentric shaft by a belt and pulley system including a pulley which is connected to the eccentric shaft. The entire housing is pivotally mounted to the rear of the tractor and can be swung between positions that raise the blade upward away from the ground and that move the blade down into the ground. This can be done by hydraulic means under the control of the operator without leaving his seat and without regard to whether the tractor is moving or not. The blade may have a chute for leading wire or cable through the chute to the bottom of the blade from the top thereof, or it may have a connection at its bottom end to enable a cable or pipe to be connected thereto to be pulled through the ground. In either case there is a narrow slit trench cut by the oscillation of the blade and the cable or pipe is disposed in the bottom of the trench.

United States Patent Grazier et a].

[ 1 June 20, 1972 [54] SELF-PROPELLED CABLE BURYING APPARATUS [72]Inventors: Robert L. Grazier, Wadsworth; Kenneth F. Kudingo, Round LakeBeach, both of Ill.

[73] Assignee: Service Dynamics Inc., Lake Bluff, Ill.

[22] Filed: March 12, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 123,663

[52] U.S. Cl ..61/72.6, 172/40 Primary Examiner-Jacob ShapiroAttorney-Silverman & Cass [571 ABSTRACT A cable burying apparatus ismounted to a self-propelled tractor which can be ridden by the operator.The cable burying function is achieved by a blade which oscillates in avertical plane parallel to the front to rear axis of the tractor. Theupper end of the blade is pivoted to the top of a housing and aconnecting rod driven by an eccentric is connected between the ends ofthe blade so that rotation of the shaft which mounts the eccentric willoscillate the bottom end of the blade. The housing also carries theeccentric and the shaft which drives the eccentric. Power for therotation of the shaft is taken from a prime mover that is used to drivethe tractor and is coupled to the eccentric shaft by a belt and pulleysystem including a pulley which is connected to the eccentric shaft. Theentire housing is pivotally mounted to the rear of the tractor and canbe swung between positions that raise the blade upward away from theground and that move the blade down into the ground. This can be done byhydraulic means under the control of the operator without leaving hisseat and without regard to whether the tractor is moving or not. Theblade may have a chute for leading wire or cable through the chute tothe bottom of the blade from the top thereof, or it may have aconnection at its bottom end to enable a cable or pipe to be connectedthereto to be pulled through the ground. in either case there is anarrow slit trench cut by the oscillation of the blade and the cable orpipe is disposed in the bottom of the trench.

13 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUMO I972 SHEET 10F 4 INVENTOR R0m E6 E 2w m 3 0 6K W F rA m mzmsnmzo 1972 3.570512 SHEET 3 OF 4 INVENTORROBERT L. GRAZ/El? KENNETH E KUD/IVGO BY W ,1

ATTORNEYS SELF-PROPELLED CABLE BURYING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The invention herein relates to the art of laying cable orwire in the ground, and is concerned with an apparatus that isself-propelled and can be ridden by the operator while the apparatus isburying the cable. 1

Prior structures are for the most part complex and utilize substantialpower for accomplishing what is done with very little power by thestructure of the invention. Self-propelled apparatus which hasheretofore been known has required large tractors or road workingequipment for accomplishing the burying of cable or pipe. Smallerapparatus has been manually operated and difficult to control becausethe apparatus has to be guided by a walking operator who is stationedbehind the apparatus. The oscillating blade is toward the front of theapparatus and coupled with the fact that the operator must walk behind,this limits the distance from buildings at which point the operator cancommence to bury the cable. Prior structures of the manually operatedtype required the entire machine to be tilted in order to raise theblade from the ground.

The concept of an oscillating blade which is driven from the same primemover that is used to drive the vehicle is not found in the prior artand hence because separate power units are thus used, the apparatus hastended to be large, cumbersome, complex and expensive.

Mechanisms are known which oscillate blades but these are also complex.

The attributes of simplicity, compactness and eflectiveness are combinedin the invention to produce a structure which is easy to operate andeconomical to produce, and which will not unnecessarily tear up theground or injure turf. Specifically, since the apparatus is combinedwith a small rubber-tired tractor of the gardening variety, the movementof the tractor itself over the ground does not dig into the turf ordestroy greenery. Since the tractor is driven by the operator andsteered as conventional vehicles, it is simple to maneuver aroundobjects while laying the cable or wire. Since the blade is a thinoscillating blade, it cuts its way through the ground, making a fineslit trench without the need for a coulter wheel, and does not throw upridges or mounds as it operates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, a self-propelledvehicle has a housing pivotally mounted to its rear, the housing beingswingable in a vertical direction by hydraulic means controlled by theoperator who rides the vehicle. The housing carries an oscillatingblade, an eccentric mechanism for oscillating the blade and means forcoupling the eccentric mechanism to the prime mover which is used todrive the vehicle. The coupling is such that the swinging movement ofthe housing upward or downward in positioning the blade does not afi'ectthe driving connection between the prime mover of the vehicle and theoscillating blade so that such up and down swinging movement can beaccomplished while the vehicle is moving under the complete control ofthe operator. The driving power is taken from the front end of thevehicle from the prime mover and is transmitted to the rear of thevehicle to a vertical oriented shaft which in turn drives a horizontallyoriented shaft. This latter shaft has a sheave which is connected bybelt to a shaft that rotates the eccentric mechanism. The axis of theshaft that rotates the eccentric mechanism, which is in the housing, andthe pivotal axis of the housing are substantially co-axial to enable theswinging movement of the housing independently of the driving of theblade.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showingthe apparatus of the invention in use burying a cable;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus with the vibratingblade withdrawn from the ground;

FIG. 2a is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the vibratingblade removed from the ground and with a cable secured thereto forburying,- the view being a continuation of the view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the mechanism for raisingand lowering the blade;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line4-4 of FIG. 3 and in the indicated direction;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3and in the indicated direction;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 6-6of FIG. 5 and in the indicated direction;

FIG. 7 is a somewhat diagrammatic perspective view showing themechanical system for driving the blade and the hydraulic system forlifiing the blade drive mechanism houss;

FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of the housing for the blade drivemechanism;

FIG. 9 is a detailed side elevational view of one form of blade for usewith the apparatus for burying cable;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 10-10 of FIG.9 and in the indicated direction;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified form ofblade for use with the apparatus; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary side elevational view of still another modifiedform of blade.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The reference character 20designates generally a small self-powered tractor of a type readilyavailable on the market and easily modified to comprise a cable-buryingapparatus constructed and functioning in accordance with the invention.Such tractors normally have power take-offs driven by the prime mover ofthe tractor, either in the front of the tractor or in the back thereof,and often at both places. For example, in the tractors used with theinvention, the front power take-off was utilized for a completelydifferent purpose than the rear power take-off. This was done without inany way interfering with the structures that were added to the tractor,and increased the versatility of the equipment.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 the tractor 20 is shown comprising a chassis orstructural framework 22 carrying large rear wheels 24 driven through aconventional power train (not shown) by the prime mover 26 which in thiscase constitutes a small internal combustion engine mounted forward ofthe tractor 20. The front wheels 28 are smaller than the rear wheels,being mounted for steering function as controlled by the operatorsitting in a seat 30 mounted on the framework 22, through the medium ofsteering wheel 32 and its associated mechanism. The usual controls,instruments, switches, etc., for operating a tractor of this type arecarried on the dashboard 34 under the surveillance and control of theoperator.

As best seen in said FIGS. 1 and 2, the operator drives the tractor 20forward over the ground 36 with the apparatus of the invention includinga blade 40 that is inserted into the ground at the rear of the tractor,the blade oscillating back and forth in a vertical plane parallel to thefront-to-back axis of the tractor. The oscillation of the blade 40 cutsa thin vertical trench in the ground having a minimum of earth thrown upwhile doing so, this being indicated by the small ridges 42 of FIG. 1.The blade performs any one of several functions according to itsconstruction. This will be explained hereinafter,

but for the present, it may be understood that the blade will pull apipe or cable through the ground in order to lay the same at the bottomof the blade, or it may lead cable or wire from a reel (not shown)carried on the tractor 20 down through a chute attached to the blade, aswill be explained in connection with FIGS. 11 and 12, to cause the cableor wire to be deposited in the bottom of the trench being cut by theblade.

The blade 40 is carried by a housing 44 that is mounted to the chassis22 of the tractor 20 at the rear end thereof, this housing beingswingable between positions that dispose the blade substantiallyvertically in the ground as shown in FIG. 1

and that carry the blade at an angle and out of the ground as shown inFIG. 2. The operator has controls and the apparatus is constructed toenable the movement of the housing to any of these positions orintermediate positions, without moving from his seat 30. The type oftractor which is preferred is one which has a so-called hydrostatictransmission which gives a smooth transmission of power, but inaddition, provides a measure of yielding coupling between the primemover and the driven elements so that whenever an obstruction isencountered there will be no likelihood of damage to the tractor, theengine, or the cable-laying equipment.

Considering now the details of the apparatus, the housing 44 has a pairof rails 46 that are elongate and somewhat channel-shaped, these railsbeing connected to extended side formations 48 of the housing 44 andheld in place thereon by the bolts 50. The holes 52 in the rails 46 areslotted to enable the rails to be adjusted front and rear, the railsbeing confined to this movement by guides 54 welded to the plates 48.The forward ends of the rails 46 are provided with eyes as shown at 56,these eyes being engaged upon the stub shafts 58 which, in turn, arewelded to the side plates 60 of a boxlike support structure 62 that issecured to the rear of the chassis 22. This boxlike structure 62 isdisposed between the rear wheels 24 and extends backward from thetractor 20. The lower end of the housing 44 which comprises side plates64 is provided with an oppositely protruding shaft 66 welded in place. Apair of cylinders 68 is mounted between the housing 44 and the structure62, each cylinder 68 having a fixed eye 70 engaged to one of therespective ends of the shaft 66 and held in place by cotter pins 72. Theopposite end of each cylinder 68 has an eye 74 that is mounted to theconnecting rod 76 and the eye 74 being secured to a pivot pin 78 that,in turn, is secured to the side plate 60, there being two such pinsaligned on opposite sides of the structure 62.

Each cylinder 68 is hydraulically operated so that the internal pistonthereof may be moved to extend or withdraw the connecting rod 76. Thisaction serves to swing the entire housing 44 with its associatedapparatus about the axis of the stub shafts 58 to accomplish the raisingor lowering of the blade 40 as previously explained. The broken lineposition in FIG. 7 is the lowered position. The cylinders each haveports at their front and rear ends as will be evidenced by the fittings80.and 82. The hydraulic conduits 84 and 86 connect with the two lines88 and 90 (see FIG. 7) that lead to the valve 92 operated by the handlever 94 to control the flow of the hydraulic fluid that is pumped bythe hydraulic pump driven by the prime mover 26 through a sheave 96,belt 98 and pulley wheel 100. The pump and sump are contained in asuitable housing 102 conveniently mounted to the tractor 20 as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 so that the lever 94 is readily available to the operatoras shown.

The power transfer for the oscillation of the blade 40 is effected asbest shown in FIG. 7. From the front of the prime mover 26, power isrotationally taken off by means of a sheave 104 through the medium of abelt 106 that passes over a pair of idler pulleys 108 at the front ofthe tractor 20. From this point both reaches of the belt, whichpreferably is of the automotive V-shaped type, pass to the rear of thetractor 20 and around a sheave 108 that is mounted for rotation on avertical axis of the structure 62. Interior of the structure 62 there isprovided a base 110 (FIG. 4) suitably secured to the structure 62 bywelding or the like. The sheave 108 is mounted on a vertical shaft 112that is carried in a bearing 114 secured to this base plate 54. Fromthis bearing 114 the shaft 112 passes into a small gear box 116 andthere is connected to a bevel gear 118. The gear box 116 has a sidebearing 120 which mounts a stub shaft 124 so that the rotation of theshaft 1 12 on a vertical axis is converted to rotation of the shaft 122on a horizontal axis. At the end of the shaft 122 there is secured asheave 126 and, it will follow the rotation of the sheave 104 willrotate the sheave 126 on a horizontally disposed axis. The sheave 126carries a V-belt 128 which engages a second sheave 130 that is mountedto a transverse shaft 132 journalled in bearings 134 that are mounted onopposite plates64.

A sleeve 136 having an eccentrically disposed passageway 138 therein ispinned securely to the shah 132 so that rotation of the shaft 132 givesan eccentric action to the exterior of the sleeve 136. The exterior ofthe sleeve 136 is journalled in a large bearing 140 that is mounted inthe eye 142 of a connecting rod 144. The opposite end of the connectingrod 144 has an eye 146 joumalled on a bearing 148 that, in turn, ismounted to a shah 150. The shaft 150 is in the form of a sleeve mountedon the body of a bolt 151 that passes through the two arms 152 formingthe upper blade holder. At its top end the blade holder is pivoted to asuitable shah 154 that is mounted between the upper side plates 64 abovethe junction between the enlarged portions 48. The blade 40 is bolted tothe blade holder 152 at 158 and depends therefrom.

From the above discussion, it should be apparent that the mechanismwhich operates the blade is driven from the shaft 122 through the sheave126 and its associated V-belt 128. If the entire housing 44 is swungupward to the position shown in FIG. 2, providing that the swinging axisis coincident with the axis of the shaft 122 there will be no effectupon the driven oscillating movement of the blade 40. Accordingly, itwould be ideal that the axis of the stub shafts 58 upon which the rails46 rotate be perfectly coincident with the axis of the shah 122. Sincethere is flexibility in the type of V-belts normally used in automotiveequipment, there is no need for great accuracy to be exercised inlocating the axis of the stub shafts 58 with respect to the axis of theshah 122. Accordingly, as used in the claims, the expressionsubstantially coaxial should be taken to mean approximately coaxial. Thegreater the coincidence of these axes, the more perfect the operation ofthe apparatus.

The leading edge 160 of the blade is sharpened to enable it to cutthrough the ground. At its bottom end, the blade has a foot 162 that ispreferably bifurcated and perforated to enable a chain 164 or otherflexible member to be secured thereto. A cable or pipe holding device166 of the so-called Chinese finger cot" construction is attached to thechain to enable a cable 170, for example, to be secured to the bottomend of the blade 40.

Two other forms of blade are shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. In FIG. 11 theblade 172 has a chute 174 secured thereto, the chute 174 being welded ormounted by the ears'l76.to the body of the blade 172. The chute 174 hasa top mouth 178 into which a wire or cable 180 may be inserted and ithas a passageway 182 throughout its length opening at the bottom at 184so as to pay out the cable or wire 180 as it is feeding through thechute 174. In the case of such arrangement, the tractor 20 will have areel of such cable 180 mounted somewhere on the tractor conveniently tounroll and lead the cable down into the chute 174. In FIG. 12 the blade186 has passageway 188 formed directly in the body of the blade and thusavoiding the need for attaching any member on the outside of the bladeas in FIG. 11. The mouth 190 receives the cable or wire 192 at the topand pays it out the bottom.

In the case of the structure of FIG. 9, the cable or pipe 170 has itsend secured to the holding device 166 and the blade 40 is startedoscillating by the operator with the blade disposed out of the ground asshown in FIG. 2. The oscillating of the blade is produced by themechanical connections which have been described, and the action of theblade is quite fast although the stroke is very short. The broken andsolid line outlines of the blade and carrier of FIG. 3 illustrate thetype of oscillation, although as will be seen from a study of thelinkage, the movement is somewhat less than might be indicated by FIG.3. With the blade oscillating, the operator moves the lever 94 in such adirection as to cause the cylinders 68 to lower the blade with itsattached cable 170 under the ground as shown in FIG. 1. He may not lowerit to the fullest extent to which the mechanism is capable of doing, butin any event, the depth of the blade may be several inches to about afoot below the surface of the ground 36. He will, at this same time,operate the controls which drive the rear wheels 24 and the tractor 20moves forward. He may readily steer the tractor as it moves. As thisoccurs, the cable or pipe is drawn forward under the ground, entering atthe point where the blade 40 was lowered. The operator drives forward towhatever point he desires and the cable is thus laid under the ground.While the tractor 20 moves forward, the oscillating movement of theblade cuts the necessary trench at the bottom of which the cable will belaid, this cutting being made without the expendi ture of excessivepower because of the oscillation. Accordingly, a relatively low-poweredtractor can be used for the activity.

In the case of the structures of FIGS. 1 l and 12, the free end of thecable or wire is led from the reel (not shown) carried by the tractorand threaded through the passageway 182 or 188 so that a substantialportion extends out the bottom of the chute. For this purpose thestructures 174 or 186 may have separable members which can betemporarily removed while the cable is placed in the passageway andthereafter replaced. Such constructions are known. Thereafter, the freeend of the cable is tied to some form of anchor or large member thatwill not be pulled into the ground. The blade is in the upper positionat this time, and it is started oscillating and lowered into the groundwhile the tractor is driven forward. As the tractor moves, the bladeoscillates and cuts a narrow slit trench while the cable is unreeled andpasses into the upper end of the chute and out the bottom end, laying inthe bottom of the trench. The cable does not move in such case since itis not being pulled through the ground.

The advantages of using the self-propelled vehicle as described, arebelieved obvious, but it is clear that there is considerable flexibilityof use. The tractor driving mechanism is separate from the mechanismthat oscillates the blade so that the tractor may be driven to anydesired location without any problem. The mechanism for raising andlowering the blade is independent of the oscillation of the blade sothat the blade can be raised or lowered while the oscillation isoccurring, thereby enabling the operator to choose any desirable depthwithout getting out of his seat and without stopping the tractor.

Many other advantages will occur to those skilled in this art from anexamination of the foregoing specification. Modifications are readilymade in the invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereofas defined in the appended claims.

What it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. Cable-burying apparatus, comprising A. a self-propelled vehicleadapted to be driven over the ground by a riding operator and having aframework, a prime mover mounted at the front end of the vehicle to theframework for propelling said vehicle,

B. a housing at the rear of the vehicle and pivotally mounted to theframework for swinging movement in a vertical plane upon a horizontalaxis,

C. a generally vertical blade adapted to enter the ground and beingpivotally secured at its upper end to the hous- D. a first horizontalshafi; carried by the housing and having an eccentric mounted thereon, aconnecting rod reciprocating by rotational movement of the eccentric andthe rod being connected to the blade between the ends thereof so thatreciprocation of the rod will cause the bottom end of the blade tooscillate back and forth in a vertical plane parallel with thefront-to-back axis of the vehicle,

E. power take-off means coupling the prime mover to said firsthorizontal shaft and including a second horizontal shaft mounted on saidframework driven by said prime mover, the axis of said second shaftbeing substantially coaxial with said horizontal axis,

F. flexible power transfer means connecting said first and secondhorizontal shafts, and

G. means operable by the operator while seated on the vehicle andincluding extensible link means between said housing and framework tocause the swinging movement of said housing without regard tooscillation of said blade, between a position in which the blade isdisposed in the ground and a position in which the blade is tilted upand out of the ground.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said power take-offmeans include a vertical shaft carried by said framework at the rear ofsaid vehicle, belt and sheave connections between said prime mover andvertical shaft whereby said shaft rotates while said prime mover isoperating, and a mechanical connection between said vertical shaft andsaid second horizontal shaft for converting vertical rotation of thevertical shaft into horizontal rotation of the said second horizontalshaft.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 on which the extensible linkmeans comprise at least one hydraulic cylinder having a pivotalconnection with said housing at one end thereof and a pivotal connectionwith the framework at the other end thereof, one of said pivotalconnections including a coupling with the connecting rod of thecylinder.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which there are rail meansfixed to said housing and extending forwardly therefrom, said rail meanshaving the front end thereof connected to said framework on stub shaftmeans, the axis of said stub shaft means comprising said horizontalaxis.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which said mechanicalconnection comprises a pair of meshing bevel gears.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said first and secondshafts each have a sheave secured thereto and the flexible powertransfer means comprise a flexible belt connected between the sheaves.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the framework includes aboxlike structure connected to said framework at the rear thereof, thepivotal mounting of said housing is to said boxlike structure and thesecond horizontal shaft is mounted on said boxlike structure.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said power take-offmeans include a vertical shaft carried by said boxlike structure, beltand sheave connections between said prime mover and vertical shaftwhereby said shaft rotates while said prime mover is operating, and amechanical connection between said vertical shaft and said secondhorizontal shaft for converting vertical rotation of the vertical shaftinto horizontal rotation of the said second horizontal shafi.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which saidblade has apassageway for leading a cable or the like to the blade to pass down thesame and out the bottom of the blade into the bottom of the trench beingcut by the blade during oscillation thereof and while the vehicle ismoving forward.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said blade has aconnection at the bottom end thereof for coupling a cable or the like tothe blade to enable the cable or the like to be pulled forward throughthe trench being cut by the blade during oscillation thereof and whilethe vehicle is moving forward.

1 1. Cable burying apparatus, comprising A. a self-propelled vehicleadapted to be driven over the ground by a riding operator and having aframework, a prime mover mounted at the front end of the vehicle to theframework for propelling said vehicle,

B. a housing at the rear of the vehicle and pivotally mounted to theframework for swinging movement in a vertical plane upon a horizontalaxis,

C. a generally vertical blade adapted to enter the ground and beingpivotally secured at its upper end to the housrng,

D. a first horizontal shaft carried by the housing and having aneccentric mounted thereon, a connecting rod reciprocating by rotationalmovement of the eccentric and the rod being connected to the bladebetween the ends thereof so that reciprocation of the rod will cause thebottom end of the blade to oscillate back and forth in a vertical planeparallel with the front-to-back axis of the vehicle,

E. power take-off means coupling the prime mover to said firsthorizontal shaft and including means mounted on the framework capable oftransmitting rotational movement from said prime mover to said firsthorizontal shaft for all positions of said housing, and

F. means operable by the operator while riding including variable lengthlink means connected between said housing and framework to cause theswinging movement of said housing without regard to oscillation of theblade, between a position in which the blade is disposed in the groundand a position in which the blade is tilted up out of the ground.

, 12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 in which said means capableof transmitting rotational movement include a second horizontal shaftand flexible power transfer means connecting said first and secondhorizontal shafts.

l3. Cable-burying apparatus, comprising a self-propelled vehicle havinga framework and being adapted to be driven over the ground by a ridingoperator, a housing at the rear end of said vehicle, said housing beingpivotally mounted to said framework for swinging movement in a verticalplane upon and about a horizontal axis, a generally vertical bladeadapted to enter the ground and being pivotally secured at its upper endto said housing, a first horizontal shaft carried by said housing andhaving an eccentric mounted thereon, a connecting rod which isreciprocated by rotational movement of said eccentric and which isconnected to said blade between the ends thereof so that reciprocationof said rod will cause the bottom end of said blade to oscillate backand forth in a vertical plane parallel with the front-to-back axis ofsaid vehicle, a second horizontal shafi mounted on said framework, theaxis of said second shaft being substantially coaxial with saidhorizontal axis, power transfer means operatively connecting said secondshaft to said first shaft for driving said first shaft from said secondshaft, means for rotating said second shaft, and means operable by theoperator while seated on said vehicle for causing swinging movement ofsaid housing without regard to the oscillation of said blade, between aposition in which said blade is disposed in the ground and a position inwhich said blade is tilted up and out of the ground, said means forcausing swinging movement including extensible linkage connected betweensaid housing and said framework.

1. Cable-burying apparatus, comprising A. a self-propelled vehicleadapted to be driven over the ground by a riding operator and having aframework, a prime mover mounted at the front end of the vehicle to theframework for propelling said vehicle, B. a housing at the rear of thevehicle and pivotally mounted to the framework for swinging movement ina vertical plane upon a horizontal axis, C. a generally vertical bladeadapted to enter the ground and being pivotally secured at its upper endto the housing, D. a first horizontal shaft carried by the housing andhaving an eccentric mounted thereon, a connecting rod reciprocating byrotational movement of the eccentric and the rod being connected to theblade between the ends thereof so that reciprocation of the rod willcause the bottom end of the blade to oscillate back and forth in avertical plane parallel with the front-to-back axis of the vehicle, E.power take-off means coupling the prime mover to said first horizontalshaft and including a second horizontal shaft mounted on said frameworkdriven by said prime mover, the axis of said second shaft beingsubstantially coaxial with said horizontal axis, F. flexible powertransfer means connecting said first and second horizontal shafts, andG. means operable by the operator while seated on the vehicle andincluding extensible link means between said housing and framework tocause the swinging movement of said housing without regard tooscillation of said blade, between a position in which the blade isdisposed in the ground and a position in which the blade is tilted upand out of the ground.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in whichsaid power take-off means include a vertical shaft carried by saidframework at the rear of said vehicle, belt and sheave connectionsbetween said prime mover and vertical shaft whereby said shaft rotateswhile said prime mover is operating, and a mechanical connection betweensaid vertical shaft and said second horizontal shaft for convertingvertical rotation of the vertical shaft into horizontal rotation of thesaid second horizontal shaft.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 onwhich the extensible link means comprise at least one hydraulic cylinderhaving a pivotal connection with said housing at one end thereof and apivotal connection with the framework at the other end thereof, one ofsaid pivotal connections including a coupling with the connecting rod ofthe cylinder.
 4. ThE apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which there arerail means fixed to said housing and extending forwardly therefrom, saidrail means having the front end thereof connected to said framework onstub shaft means, the axis of said stub shaft means comprising saidhorizontal axis.
 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which saidmechanical connection comprises a pair of meshing bevel gears.
 6. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said first and second shaftseach have a sheave secured thereto and the flexible power transfer meanscomprise a flexible belt connected between the sheaves.
 7. The apparatusas claimed in claim 1 in which the framework includes a boxlikestructure connected to said framework at the rear thereof, the pivotalmounting of said housing is to said boxlike structure and the secondhorizontal shaft is mounted on said boxlike structure.
 8. The apparatusas claimed in claim 7 in which said power take-off means include avertical shaft carried by said boxlike structure, belt and sheaveconnections between said prime mover and vertical shaft whereby saidshaft rotates while said prime mover is operating, and a mechanicalconnection between said vertical shaft and said second horizontal shaftfor converting vertical rotation of the vertical shaft into horizontalrotation of the said second horizontal shaft.
 9. The apparatus asclaimed in claim 1 in which said blade has a passageway for leading acable or the like to the blade to pass down the same and out the bottomof the blade into the bottom of the trench being cut by the blade duringoscillation thereof and while the vehicle is moving forward.
 10. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said blade has a connection atthe bottom end thereof for coupling a cable or the like to the blade toenable the cable or the like to be pulled forward through the trenchbeing cut by the blade during oscillation thereof and while the vehicleis moving forward.
 11. Cable burying apparatus, comprising A. aself-propelled vehicle adapted to be driven over the ground by a ridingoperator and having a framework, a prime mover mounted at the front endof the vehicle to the framework for propelling said vehicle, B. ahousing at the rear of the vehicle and pivotally mounted to theframework for swinging movement in a vertical plane upon a horizontalaxis, C. a generally vertical blade adapted to enter the ground andbeing pivotally secured at its upper end to the housing, D. a firsthorizontal shaft carried by the housing and having an eccentric mountedthereon, a connecting rod reciprocating by rotational movement of theeccentric and the rod being connected to the blade between the endsthereof so that reciprocation of the rod will cause the bottom end ofthe blade to oscillate back and forth in a vertical plane parallel withthe front-to-back axis of the vehicle, E. power take-off means couplingthe prime mover to said first horizontal shaft and including meansmounted on the framework capable of transmitting rotational movementfrom said prime mover to said first horizontal shaft for all positionsof said housing, and F. means operable by the operator while ridingincluding variable length link means connected between said housing andframework to cause the swinging movement of said housing without regardto oscillation of the blade, between a position in which the blade isdisposed in the ground and a position in which the blade is tilted upout of the ground.
 12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 in whichsaid means capable of transmitting rotational movement include a secondhorizontal shaft and flexible power transfer means connecting said firstand second horizontal shafts.
 13. Cable-burying apparatus, comprising aself-propelled vehicle having a framework and being adapted to be drivenover the ground by a riding operator, a housing at the rear end of saidvehicle, said housing being pivotally mounted to said framework forswinging movement in a vertical plane upon and about a horizontal axis,a generally vertical blade adapted to enter the ground and beingpivotally secured at its upper end to said housing, a first horizontalshaft carried by said housing and having an eccentric mounted thereon, aconnecting rod which is reciprocated by rotational movement of saideccentric and which is connected to said blade between the ends thereofso that reciprocation of said rod will cause the bottom end of saidblade to oscillate back and forth in a vertical plane parallel with thefront-to-back axis of said vehicle, a second horizontal shaft mounted onsaid framework, the axis of said second shaft being substantiallycoaxial with said horizontal axis, power transfer means operativelyconnecting said second shaft to said first shaft for driving said firstshaft from said second shaft, means for rotating said second shaft, andmeans operable by the operator while seated on said vehicle for causingswinging movement of said housing without regard to the oscillation ofsaid blade, between a position in which said blade is disposed in theground and a position in which said blade is tilted up and out of theground, said means for causing swinging movement including extensiblelinkage connected between said housing and said framework.